Transforming the nation's consciousness on race through the law, social science, and the arts.

David Salniker

Director of Administration and Finance

David Salniker is a senior advisor and the Director of Administration and Finance for the Equal Justice Society. David brings an extensive background in nonprofit management and civil rights law. He began as a consultant to EJS in 2003 and helped to establish EJS as a newly formed, tax-exempt entity. Since January of 2004, he has continued as a full-time member of the management team.

David brings more than 25 years of experience as a nonprofit executive and manager. From 1996 to 2003, David served as the Executive Director of the Tides Center, a unique organization promoting social change by providing fiscal sponsorship to over 350 projects located in 40 different states and six countries. As Executive Director of the Tides Center, he also served as a member of the executive council responsible for the planning and oversight of the entire Tides family of organizations, including the Tides Foundation, Groundspring, the Thoreau Center and the Community Clinics Initiative. During the same period, David launched Tsunami, the 501(c)(4), operated by the Tides Center.

Prior to joining the Tides Center, David served for seven years as the Executive Director of Pacifica Foundation. For many years, the Pacifica Apprenticeship program presented the Salniker Award for Affirmative Action to those who support the advancement of women and people of color in Pacifica.

David was initially a practicing attorney specializing in civil rights and employment law. He is one of the original members of the National Lawyers Guild Affirmative Action Committee formed in 1978. For many years, David served as the Guild’s representative to the Northern California Coalition for Civil Rights. He was a member of the steering committee of ‘No on 209’ – a campaign committee seeking to oppose a ballot initiative to end affirmative action in California. David is a former treasurer of the ACLU of Northern California and currently serves as Treasurer of Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial.

David has a J.D. from the University of California at Berkeley (Boalt) and a Masters of Law (in Labor Law) from New York University School of Law.